Paula Dobriansky, the undersecretary of state for global affairs,
is a vociferous administration proponent of the crusade to spread
democracy and human rights—often, it seems, in direct contradiction
to actual U.S. actions. For example, at the release of the State
Department’s annual human rights report in early March 2005,
Dobriansky said that “promoting human rights is not just
an element of our foreign policy, it is the bedrock of our policy
and our foremost concern.” But although the report condemns
the use of a number of “torture techniques” in places
like Egypt, Libya, and Iran, many of the same methods have been
described by Donald
Rumsfeld and others—in the context of Abu Ghraib—as
merely “abuses.” (9) Likewise, despite acknowledging
the use of torture by governments like Egypt, the United States
has continued its practice of “rendition,” the covert
sending of prisoners in U.S. custody to countries where torture
during interrogation is widespread, in contravention of U.S. obligations
under the Torture Treaty. (10)
These minor gaps between theory and practice have not dampened
Dobriansky’s enthusiasm. Since the president’s inaugural
address, Dobriansky has tirelessly repeated the president’s
message about spreading “ democratic movements and institutions
in every nation and culture … [and] ending tyranny in our
world.” In late February, reacting to the anti-Syria demonstrations
in Lebanon, Dobriansky claimed: “As the President noted in
Bratislava just last week, there was a rose revolution in Georgia,
an orange revolution in Ukraine and, most recently, a purple revolution
in Iraq. In Lebanon, we see growing momentum for a cedar revolution.” (There’s
been a “revolution” in Iraq?)
A few weeks later, at the opening of the UN Human Rights Commission
in Geneva, Dobriansky again argued: “History is calling to
us—democracy is on the march everywhere, and it is the imperative
of our time to rally to this cause. Georgia’s Rose Revolution
and Ukraine’s Orange Revolution freed millions and inspired
countless more who are still living under despotism. People around
the world saw citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Palestinian
Authority choosing their own governments and knew that they too
should have that right. In Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle
East, the people have raised their voice for a true democracy with
free and fair elections and a sovereign nation free from foreign
occupation and influence. There is now enormous momentum for democracy
to reach every corner of the globe.” (11, 12)
Dobriansky held numerous other government positions before joining
the Bush administration. She was associate director for policy
and programs at the U.S. Information
Agency (1990-1993); deputy assistant secretary of state for
human rights and humanitarian affairs (1987-1990); adviser to the
U.S. Delegation to the 1985 UN
Decade for Women Conference in Nairobi, Kenya;
and served in the Office of European and Soviet affairs at the
National Security Council (1980-1987).
Alongside her government work, Dobriansky has actively supported
or worked for a number of conservative policy institutes, including
the Hudson Institute, the Independent
Women’s Forum, and Freedom House. She has also been a
supporter of the Project
for the New American Century (PNAC), having signed several
of PNAC’s early public letters, including its founding statement
of principles, which called for a “Reaganite policy of military
strength and moral clarity,” and championed America’s “unique
role in preserving and extending an international order friendly
to our security, our prosperity, and our principles.” (7)
Regarding her professional experiences and various awards and
honors, Dobriansky’s State Department bio reports: “[Dobriansky]
is a Fulbright-Hays scholar, Ford and Rotary Foundation Fellow, a
member of Phi Beta Kappa, and a recipient of various honors, including
Georgetown University’s Annual Alumni Achievement Award, the
State Department’s Superior Honor Award, Dialogue on Diversity’s
International Award 2001, National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
Democracy Service Medal, Poland’s Highest Medal of Merit, Grand
Cross of Commander of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas,
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Fairleigh Dickinson University,
and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Flagler College. … Dr.
Dobriansky has lectured and published articles, book chapters, and
op-ed pieces on foreign affairs-related topics, ranging from U.S.
human rights policy to East European foreign and defense policies,
public diplomacy, democracy promotion strategies, Russia, and Ukraine.
For three years, she hosted Freedom’s Challenge and co-hosted
Worldwise, the international affairs programs on National Empowerment
Television. Additionally, she has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNN Headline
News, CNN & Company, Fox Morning News, John McLaughlin’s
One-on-One, The McLaughlin Group, C-SPAN, MSNBC, PBS, and National
Public Radio, and has testified often before the Senate Foreign Relations
and House International Relations Committees.”
